film diplomacy

Indie moviemakers often take on other roles—entrepreneur, advocate, teacher. Add cultural ambassador and diplomat to that list for some of America’s top cinematic thinkers.

Indie moviemakers often take on other roles—entrepreneur, advocate, teacher. Add cultural ambassador and diplomat to that list for some of America’s top cinematic thinkers. “Cultural diplomacy is a powerful tool, and independent filmmakers are ambassadors of culture,” said Evan Ryan, assistant secretary of state for the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). “We find that American culture is always welcomed. Film is a way in. It’s an important focus for us.”

Film is a cultural diplomacy tool, a trade enabler, a global connector an employment creator. It is also a powerful tool for communication. [...] These were some of the points raised by a delegation to the Communications Ministry by stakeholders of the film industry, led by the Black Star International film festival (BSIFF).

CPD opens its film diplomacy vault, just in time for Oscar Sunday.

From film to graphic design, headlines this week explored the power of visual storytelling.

February 21, 2016

Vietnamese Ambassador to India Ton Sinh Thanh on Saturday invited Indian filmmakers to shoot their movies in Vietnam to boost the two millenia-old cultural ties between the two countries. [...] “we should try new areas such as exchange of movies and promoting film shooting in each other’s countries,” Ton said while speaking as the guest of honour at a bilateral international seminar...

The Obama administration is taking its fight against ISIS to Hollywood, consulting with some of the world’s best storytellers for tips on how to win the battle for hearts and minds. [...] The outreach is part of a revamped administration strategy to counter ISIS’s magnetic pull for some young people in the Middle East and beyond, working with local partners, establishing a new Washington-based communications center and, now, drawing on the deep well of movie maker experience. 

Life on the Border', a documentary [...] presents a unique perspective of their life experiences in the midst of brutal attacks by the Islamic State. [...]  "Refugees" [...] captures the real-life drama of the migrants through virtual reality images of their predicament and the hardships they have had to face in the battle for survival.

Pages